D. Rhodes, CPA, Writer and Editor
Picture this: a classroom at Wake Tech Community College, filled with the energy of aspiring barbers. It's presentation day for their business model canvas projects. The twist? All but one student chose to present ideas outside the barbering industry. Why? Who truly knows? But word on the street - fear. Fear that their barbershop ideas might be "stolen" by classmates.
I've been emphasizing a crucial lesson throughout our eight-session program: collaboration is key in business. "If you're scared to present an idea," I told them, "it likely means you don't truly believe you'll implement it."
I wanted to instill in them the confidence to share their ideas, knowing that their unique perspective and drive are what truly set them apart.
Then came the moment that changed everything.
One brave student decided to present their business model canvas on a barbershop. As the class provided feedback, something magical happened. The room transformed into a think tank of innovation. Questions about barber travel led to head instructor, William Graham, sparking a discussion about cross-country barbering. Ideas bounced back and forth. One student coined the term "chair hopping," and suddenly, we were all creating together.
I stopped the class right there. "This," I said, "is why collaboration is key. This is why focusing on your actual business - the barbershop you want to create - is so important. You're getting real-world application, real-world advice, and assistance from people who genuinely care about your success."
It was a lightbulb moment for everyone. They realized that once they step into the real world, it would be incredibly rare to have 20+ business-minded individuals giving honest, caring feedback - people who aren't just friends or family, but peers invested in their success.
The "Chair Hopping" concept, although familiar to some – has not been executed on a mainstream level, but has the potential to be a revolutionary approach to barbering that's not just about the cut, but about the journey.
Not Just In the Barbering Industry
This collaborative creation process isn't unique to the barber industry though. In fact, many successful businesses and innovations have emerged from similar collective brainstorming sessions.
The idea for Airbnb came from a brainstorming session between co-founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia. They were struggling to pay rent and thought about renting out air mattresses in their apartment. This simple idea, born from necessity and refined through collaboration, has grown into a company valued at over $75 billion as of 2023.
Pixar, known for its blockbuster animated films, uses a collaborative brainstorming process called the "Braintrust." In his book "Creativity, Inc.", co-founder Ed Catmull describes how every Pixar film starts as a bad idea, but through collective creativity and honest feedback, it evolves into a compelling story. This process has led to numerous Oscar-winning films and billions in box office revenue.
X (formally known as Twitter) was born during a daylong brainstorming session at podcasting company Odeo. Jack Dorsey pitched the idea of using SMS to tell small groups what you were doing. This seed of an idea, nurtured by the team's collective input, has grown into a platform with over 396 million active users worldwide.
While not a direct result of group brainstorming, Spanx founder Sara Blakely credits her success to sharing her idea widely and seeking input. In numerous interviews, she's mentioned how she constantly asked for feedback and advice, refining her product based on collective input. This openness to collaboration helped her build a billion-dollar company.
These examples underscore a crucial point: great ideas often don't come fully formed from a single mind, but are nurtured and developed through collective creativity and open dialogue.
Billionaire Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, emphasizes this in his book "Principles." He writes, "Great collaboration feels like playing jazz... it's improvised, but in a way that it produces fantastic harmony." Dalio built his incredibly successful hedge fund on the principle of "idea meritocracy," where the best ideas win, regardless of their source.
"Ideas are the easy part; it's the implementation of ideas that really separates the successful people from the non-successful." - said by Spanx founder, Sarah Blakely, in an interview with Forbes.
What happened in the classroom that day was a perfect example of this collaborative magic in action. It showed these aspiring barbers the power of open dialogue, the value of diverse perspectives, and the potential for innovation when minds come together without fear or reservation.
I rewarded them by promising that I would create a RhodeMap for this business model and we have done just that! We won't dive too deeply into the concept here but stay tuned!
So, even if you're not a barber, remember this: Your ideas gain strength when shared. They grow when exposed to different perspectives. And sometimes, the most revolutionary concepts are born not from solitary genius, but from the beautiful construct of collective creativity.
The choice is yours, but the clock is ticking. Reach out today so we can help get you from where you're at, to where you want to be. Your move boss.
*This article provides general information, not individual tax advice. Tax situations vary; consult with a qualified tax professional, like myself, for advice specific to your circumstances.
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